Category - Bollywood

Akshay Kumar’s Jolly LLB 2 has received good reviews from critics. The film, which opened in theatres today, was the second part in the ‘Jolly LLB’ series of films. [mks_button size=”medium” title=”Average Rating of All ‘Jolly LLB 2 ‘ Review – 3.2 stars” style=”rounded” bg_color=”#1e73be” txt_color=”#FFFFFF” icon=”” icon_type=””] Jolly LLB 2 Review by Indicine Rating: Subhash Kapoor knows the Indian judicial system in and out, and his movie proves that point. He starts Jolly LLB 2 in a very slapstick manner showing the innocent nature of the lead character and surrounds him with other believable North Indian characters. In the second half, a lot of important socio-political points are made which service the movie very well. Even though it isn’t always the most consistent film, you appreciate it because of the point it tries to make. The courtroom scenes are not as outlandish or dramatic as Rustom and are rooted in realism which helps bring believability to this worthy sequel. Jolly LLB2 was shot and completed in 33 days, and it is a miracle that the movie was made without many chinks. It is technically a good looking film because neither the sets nor the costumes come across as over the top. The editing is top notch as the court room scenes are very well cut and the movie itself has a pace about it throughout the duration. The music of Jolly LLB 2 isn’t exceptional and it doesn’t need to be either, but it stays true to the nature of the film and accentuates the tone and vibe. Jolly LLB 2 Review by Bollywood Hungama Rating: When JOLLY LLB 2’s promos were released, it gave us a glimpse of what to expect from the film. The film, in totality, does not disappoint as it exposes the harsh truth of today’s law and order. The film’s screenplay (Subhash Kapoor) is extremely eloquent. Full marks to Subhash Kapoor for successfully positioning the film’s story as the David vs Goliath clash, which truly depicts the flawed judicial system in India. Subhash Kapoor has also managed to subtly (yet convincingly) touch upon the aspects like crime, terrorism, religion, society, actual courtroom drama, present judicial system, human emotions and sentiments in its raw form, without resorting to any kind of over the top antics. As a film maker, he has managed to do all of this without being even a bit preachy. Besides all this, Subhash Kapoor has also managed to exhibit the ‘procedures’ a common man has to undergo in order to get justice, whereas, the rich and powerful manage to get away with any kind of crime. What works in the film’s favour is the realistic setting that’s peppered with fast-paced satirical humour. While the film has its share of a handful of witty one liners (majorly in the form of ‘Akshay-isms’), it’s the film’s dialogues (Subhash Kapoor) which come across as powerful and hard-hitting. The film has its share of humour, but, in the form of ‘situational comedy’. Jolly LLB 2 Review by Manjusha Radhakrishnan on Gulfnews Rating: A few twists towards the climax unravelling the mystery around the murder seem unnecessarily convoluted. But Kumar has enough star power to keep us engaged in the first half. Shukla is in top form too as an eccentric and moody judge who blows hot and cold. Watch out for the crackling exchanges between Kapoor and Shukla. Actress Huma Qureshi, who plays Kumar’s wife, isn’t in a well-defined role either and is reduced to a loving mother who has a penchant for Gucci creations. Watch this if you are in the mood for a legal drama, albeit a long, arduous one. Jolly LLB 2 Review by Meena Iyer on The Times Of India Rating: Writer-director Subhash Kapoor who has studied India’s burgeoning legal system of `I-will-see-you-in-court’, definitely knows as much about the Indian Penal Code as most legal sharks because of his deep study of the subject. While the last instalment dealt with a hit-n-run case, this one deals with the case of mistaken identity of a J & K terrorist. The plot has enough laugh-out-loud situations and emotional outbursts to keep you invested especially in the razor-sharp first half. The film also provides the right dose of action inside and outside the courtroom. With cops playing villains and terrorists changing religions, legal greenhorn Jolly finds himself dodging bullets in Kanpur, Lucknow and Manali(doubling up for Kashmir.) Jolly LLB 2 Review by Lokesh Dharmani’ on Masala Rating: Subhash Kapoor handles many departments; story, direction, screenplay, though he scores high as a dialogue writer. The repartee among the lawyers and the judge in the courtroom has a good wordplay. Akshay Kumar usually strikes a balance with Housefuls and Airlifts of the world. Either he is the uncouth-bachche-ki-jaan-lega types or pulls a somber Rustom face on us. In Jolly he mixes both and doesn’t offer anything new that we haven’t seen. Anu Kapoor plays a flamboyant lawyer. Why? We have no clue, but he is sharper than his sharp tuxedos and brighter than his shiniest pair of shoes. He delivers his dialogues with such conviction that it’s applause worthy. Kumudh Mishra once again acts brilliantly with his eyes and shows what an underrated actor he is. We want to see him as a central character in a film!! Saurabh Shukla evokes a laugh or two as well. Alas the narrative of the film is extremely incoherent. There is no nail biting investigation but a couple of witnesses, whose stories, the writers don’t invest in at all. They are used like diapers and thrown leaving you disconnected. Review by Rashma Shetty Bali on Bollywood Life Rating: If you watched Jolly LLB and loved it, we bet you will miss Arshad Warsi terribly. And again let me assure you it’s not Akshay’s fault, it is the makers who get trapped in his superstar aura. There are few things that are very wrong about Subhash’s attempt at recreating the first part’s magic. JLLB2 gets extremely preachy and boring to a point where you almost end up losing focus. Some instances just don’t fit logic, like Jolly’s salary is a meagre Rs 15,000 but he’s impeccably suited. Yes, they did get Akshay to wear one sports shoes throughout the film however he’s pretty well turned out otherwise. Review by Rohit Vats on Hindustan Times Rating: the movie appears confused between a satire and a thriller. The most effective scenes are cut short to pave way for action scenes. This way the pace is maintained, but the theme is ignored. It’s only in the second half that Jolly LLB 2 comes back to a prolonged courtroom battle and gives its actors a chance to rise and shine. Here, Annu Kapoor gives Akshay Kumar a solid run for his money. Overemphasis on melodrama also hampers a well though-out central idea. Review by Saibal Chatterjee on NDTVMovies Rating: Jolly LLB also, tangentially, brings into its purview the vexed theme of young Muslim men falsely implicated in cases of terrorism and not given a chance in hell by a police and a media all too eager to brand and hang them. The film also slips in allusions to the “anti-national” versus “patriotic” debate that dominates the political discourse in the country today even as it emphasizes the centrality of a free and fair judicial system in a polity controlled by the wealthy and the powerful. If all this sounds too solemn for a mass entertainer, do not be put off. Jolly LLB 2 does well not to take itself too seriously. It has the feel of a good-natured banter between friends rather than that of an inflated inquest conducted from a pedestal. Review by Shubhra Gupta on Indian Express Rating: Jolly LLB 2 is the kind of film Hindi cinema used to make at a time when its primary activity was to tell a rousing tale, using star power to embellish it. This sequel of Jolly LLB, infinitely superior to the first, brings back the joys of watching a movie with a solid plot, a strong sense of time and place and rhythm, and a confidence in itself that has been missing from Bollywood. Yes, there a few dips, and some slips, but on the whole, this Akshay Kumar-starrer is a win. It engaged me right from the first frame. And though you know exactly how it will end, there are enough good performances, and enough heft to keep us with it. Review by Ananya Bhattacharya on India Today Rating: Jolly LLB 2 feels stretched at times. It is a crowd-pleaser alright, but director Subhash Kapoor goes overboard with melodrama at certain points in the film. The film could have been a lot tighter and streamlined had the filmmaker concentrated on just the case. But no. It is an Akshay Kumar film. So you HAVE to have Akshay Kumar delivering lectures on patriotism in the courtroom. You have to have Akshay Kumar taking bullets on duty. You have to have Akshay Kumar breaking into song and dance at the drop of a hat, right when he’s out of the hospital, ad nauseum. Well, you do need the whistles for Kumar too. Jolly LLB 2 leaves you with a strong sense of deja vu. Annu Kapoor is among the weaker points of the film. Kapoor’s character is tolerable to a certain point before saturation hits you like a bus. Huma Qureshi doesn’t have much to do in Jolly LLB 2. The supporting cast is chosen well. Review by Sarita A Tanwar on DNA India Rating: To the director’s credit, he’s assembled an outstanding cast, extracted effective performances and delivered a film that wants to mean well. There is nothing extraordinary about the film, its story or even its screenplay. But what sets it apart are the characters Kapoor has created and the way his actors have played them out on screen. Akshay Kumar gives a finely nuanced performance and has gone to great lengths to become the part, including the way he has looked. Huma Qureshi is very endearing despite the character not having much scope. Annu Kapoor is a powerhouse on screen – he adds dignity even to his vile character. Saurabh Shukla is the film’s biggest highlight and he performs like an ace. The climax is delightful mainly because of the camaraderie between him and Akshay. Review by Rohit Bhatnagar on Deccan Chronicle Rating: Director Subhash Kapoor’s ‘Jolly LLB 2’ tracks and unravels the journey of the crooked police system. He highlights dirty situations which culminate in being victimised by power and politics. The movie is perhaps a reflection of the society and the upbringing of a huge population, who still aren’t aware of the twisted annals of the law and order. Subhash Kapoor has narrated a sensitive story in a nice manner. The humour added in the courtroom doesn’t look forced and rather justifies the role of actor Saurabh Shukla. The dialogues are crisp and thought provoking. First half of the film is much better than the second, with a hook point at the intermission, but the real drama unfolds in the second half which mainly pans out in the court room. The good part of the film is despite losing the grip in middle, it picks up the pace by the end credits. Review by Vishal Verma on Glamsham Rating: Without getting accused of turning spoilers, we continue by saying that Subhash Kapoor’s characterization is spot on and his narrative is involving. First half is terrific. Second half poses some problems with its over-the-top dramatization and forced attempt to make our eyes moist and it’s a bit lengthy too but it ends up in successfully delivering the message. Akshay Kumar adds his own charm to Jolly and delivers a power-packed performance that gives the audience especially his fans chance to whistle and clap in regular intervals. Subhash Kapoor has smartly designed his character and the part where he cooks for his wife will be cheered by ladies. Huma Qureshi adds her charm though she had nothing much to do. Sayani Gupta, Inaamulhaq and Manav provide excellent support. JOLLY LLB is a perfect package, it makes you laugh, think and stand in support of the judiciary system that in spite of its flaws, delays and criticism, we still have a faith that it will follow the truth. Review by Jaidev Hemmady on Movietalkies Rating: Akshay is in top form as ‘jugaadu’ Jolly-whether it be comic scenes or intense moments, Akki manages to pass with flying colours. Saurabh Shukla is humorous as Justice Tripathi while Annu Kapoor is effortlessly good as always in his role as the pompous Pramod Mathur. The film also stars Huma Qureshi as Jolly’s wife Pushpa, but she doesn’t get to do much apart from lending moral support to her better half. As far as the film is concerned, the plot is bigger and more dramatic than its sequel and takes Jolly from Lucknow to Benaras to Kashmir and back again as he chases clues to solve the case. However, while director Subhash Kapoor has come up with a better plot than the prequel this time, he somewhat messes it up by inserting unnecessary scenes leading to forced humour. Review by Sukanya Verma on Rediff Rating: What’s nice though that even when Jolly LLB 2 relaxes its fun side to venture into serious terrain, it retains its spunk and irony. Once again, Akshay Kumar leaps into the dramatic space of verbal volleys and paan-stained pearlies with ease never allowing the robust Khiladi to override the rustic Jolly. Though it is relegated to side-lines, the evolved equation he shares with his tough, supportive wife (a zippy Huma Qureshi) is duly noticed. All these superlative actors and their chuckle-worthy zingers penned by writer and director Subhash Kapoor makes it easy to overlook the problems in Jolly LLB 2. The needless song and dances, the somewhat preachy lessons in secularism and a lumbering episode featuring a stiff Sayani Gupta are first to come to mind. Except it’s a criticism that’s gladly washed away by the pungency at which Jolly LLB 2 scorns at the intense rot eating up a noble profession without compromising on the inherent rascality of its titular character. Review by Shomini Sen on News18 Rating: Jolly LLB 2 is based on the same format of its prequel, it works well. It lacks the surprise element that the first part had, it is not that cleverly written as well, yet Jolly LLB 2 manages to engage viewers and gives Kumar ample scope to perform. And he doesn’t disappoint. Review by Mayank Shekhar on Mid-Day India Rating: What’s become equally obvious of late is the ‘one-man industry’ Akshay Kumar green-lighting movies that are sensible and entertaining at the same time—where with every other movie since ‘Special 26’ (2013), one is tempted to dub his performance as his finest yet. No doubt, this particular turn as the mustachioed, simpleton Jolly—vulnerable, yet so full of earthy swagger—qualifies as his best. Yet again! Review by Kunal Guha on Mumbai Mirror Rating: Director Subhash Kapoor does well in keeping the audience glued to the screen and keeps the melodrama in check. If only a few songs could be eliminated and a few scenes were cut a bit more crisply, this could’ve been a much tighter film. Also, being a courtroom drama, much rests on the arguments that each opposing counsel presents. On that front, the writing falls a bit short and even when surprise witnesses take the stand, you know how things will fold up. Jolly LLB 2 Review by Indiaglitz Rating: ‘Jolly LLB 2’ had all the potential to become a jolly good film, but ends up being a mildly good type of product. It will be loved by all those who have not seen ‘Jolly LLB’ and for the ones who have, might end up watching this movie as a strictly one time watch. Review by Manisha Lakhe on Nowrunning Rating: Saurabh Shukla as an eccentric judge does rather well, playing the fool in the beginning but turning out to be sharper than he looks. The little eccentricities are okay, but the song and dance is not. There was no need for any song except the song during the Holi festival. They just add needless breaks. Huma Qureshi fits her role but the movie belongs to the two lawyers and the judge. There are twists and turns in the plot, but thankfully nothing unbelievable. In fact, you sit back and enjoy the popcorn courtroom (after ‘Court’ the movie, you want less melodrama than ‘Damini’, but it’s okay!). This date in court is very watchable! Review by IANS on Zeenews Rating: The script meanders with some off-beat scenes and songs. The first half toils on establishing the characters and the Holi song in particular is incongruous to the plot. This feel-good satire seems to have lost its lustre. Not that this is a bad film, but it does tread on a predictable terrain with a plethora of poignant moments, some powerful ones. Some of the scenes seem forced with comedy, some of the parts are laugh-out-loud funny, but beneath the humour is the subtle criticism of the corrupt system which can be easily manipulated. The courtroom drama is indeed interesting albeit weary and it lacks the soul of its previous edition. Review by Meeta on Wogma Rating: What took me by surprise is the performances. They are not overboard. None of them were subtle, of course. But none were intolerably in-the-face. Each actor, be it Saurabh Shukla, Annu Kapoor or Huma Qureshi, owned the screen when they were on it. Akshay Kumar (Jolly) on the other hand merges with the background – in a good way. Even if I discount my bias towards “stars” who tone their stardom down, Akshay Kumar makes you believe equally his helplessness and his over-confidence despite some very filmy lines. The State vs. Jolly LLB 2 is worth the time you spend watching it. Whether or not it is worth the energy spent in going to the theater and back, and the extra multiplex bucks will depend on your affection for Akshay Kumar, satire, courtroom drama and so on. Review by Subhash K Jha on Bollyspice Rating: Akshay Kumar lets down the courtroom drama in the second-half. While he is brilliant in putting forward a case for his character’s ambitious downfall in the initial passages of the well-written if slightly over-cluttered screenplay, he is inadequate in his moral righteousness and out-performed by practically the entire cast in the courtroom. 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Jolly LLB which released in 2013, went on to be a sleeper hit and earned critical acclaim too. So when a sequel was planned, it came as a surprise that Akshay Kumar had been chosen to play the title role instead of Arshad Warsi. But it was understandable too, since it would give the sequel would reach out to a wider section of the audience because of Akshay’s presence. So is Akshay able to do justice to the franchise and continue his rich vein of form? Let’s find out.